Questions from Citizens for Brentwood Green Space
Excerpt from an email from the Citizens for Brentwood Green Space:
- Strong public interest continues in the idea of public acquisition of open space. “Management of Growth” and Preservation of Open Space” were identified as the top two most important issues among the twenty-three services and characteristics of Brentwood that were listed. In addition:
- 91% of our citizens ranked Growth Management as “Very important” or “Important.”
- 61% thought that the Preservation of the Remaining Farms and Other Large Open Space Tracts in the Community should be a “High Priority” for Brentwood. When combined with those that think this should be at “Mid to High Priority,” the percentage climbed to 81%.
Questions for the Candidates
- Quantity of green space in Brentwood
- Priority of green space in Brentwood
- Role of the City in acquisition of green space
- Acquisition of land adjoining new Smith Park
- Ensuring large properties not totally lost to development
- Tax increase for acquisition of green space
- About Citizens for Brentwood Green Space, Inc.
Quantity of green space in Brentwood
03/29/2013 -
Do you feel like Brentwood has enough park land and green space?
Personally, I would love to have a great deal more. As well, I’d like to see us continue to connect the city via bike/walking trails and to fulfill the complete plan for Smith Park. If we continue to be responsible with the city’s finances, we will remain well-positioned for future opportunities. Of course, we must approach these priorities with a prudent eye.
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Priority of green space in Brentwood
03/29/2013 -
Where would you rank the preservation of green space in Brentwood compared to other priorities facing the City?
As expected, our top priorities as a government should be those services which provide for the safety and welfare of our citizens. Beyond that, those services that are focused on providing a high quality of life would follow. In Brentwood we are fortunate to have had strong fiscal management for more than 20 years and thus, have been able to take advantage of opportunities such as the acquisition of Smith Park when possible. Comparative with other similar options for where our city can carefully invest our tax dollars, the acquisition, improvement and expansion of green space and park land has been near the top of the list, right up there with our library.
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Role of the City in acquisition of green space
03/29/2013 -
As a City Commissioner, please outline your view on the role you believe the City should play in the acquisition of park land or dedicated green space in our community. Please address whether you feel the city should be active in the acquisition of such types of land or passive and addressing only requests or offers made by various developers.
A: I believe there is a mixed approach that does not favor either option exclusively. Yes, the city should be proactive in looking for opportunities to preserve our beautiful pastures and hillsides. If a land owner approaches the city we should welcome the conversation and act diligently to evaluate the opportunity. However, I am not in favor of creating a “master list” of what we want to acquire. This will only lead to more difficult negotiations when they present themselves. Rather, I would like to see us develop a long range “wish list” to address particular areas of town or types of parks/facilities our community would like to have in the future. Something similar to the Brentwood 2020 Plan for green space and park land preservation.
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Acquisition of land adjoining new Smith Park
03/29/2013 -
The City has a three year option to purchase approximately 80 additional acres in the northwest corner of the new Smith Park. This option expires at the end of 2013. Are you in favor of the City acquiring this land?
Yes.
Why are you in favor and how would you propose the community acquire this land?
It will need to be a combination of several resources. We need a true cooperation between the public and private sector. This should include both the resources brought about by our city as well as those resources, financial included, brought about by organizations and corporations that call Brentwood home (including the Citizen’s For Brentwood Greenspace). Every citizen of Brentwood who enjoys our parks and appreciates our green space should give honest consideration to contributing to the CBGS Smith Park Fund.
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Ensuring large properties not totally lost to development
03/29/2013 -
There are still a significant number of sizeable properties in Brentwood (i.e. 200+ acres) that are potentially available for green space or park land. What approaches would you pursue or support to ensure that these properties are not totally lost to development?
I believe that we should always keep an open door and open mind to the land owners in our city. After all, each resident in included in that group. Where there are particularly large tracts of land still owned by a single family or individual, I believe we should keep an open dialogue and let those people know that we are always willing to discuss options.
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Tax increase for acquisition of green space
03/29/2013 -
The City has not changed its property tax rate (other than as required by law) for more than 20 years. Would you support a tax increase for the creation of a reserve fund for the sole purpose of the acquisition of green space and park land? Please provide details on your stance.
I believe that we must be extremely frugal with the resources of our citizens. I am of the belief that government’s role should be kept to a minimum and should consider parks, libraries and other services that enhance the quality of life only at the direction of the citizens. In Brentwood, we have a population that, time-after-time, has supported such services. While I do not believe the city commission should arbitrarily support a tax increase for quality of life services, I do support our citizens’ right to bring about a public vote on such an idea and would work to help insure a high level of voter participation in such a referendum.
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About Citizens for Brentwood Green Space, Inc.
03/29/2013 -
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